Jessica Kooreman’s childhood photos

Jessica Kooreman (nee Smith) was born October 14th, 1983 in Dearborn, Michigan.

Both her parents were roller skaters, and Kooreman got her first skates at 1 year old.

Her father, Rick, was her coach when she was young.

Kooreman also did modeling and child beauty pageants as a girl.

Competing in a beauty pageant.

Modeling on roller skates.

Kooreman also played youth hockey.

Kooreman said she decided to quit modeling when she started getting floor burns on her knees.

Her mom said, "It's knee pads or modeling. You have to choose." Kooreman replied, "I'm not wearing knee pads, so I guess I'm done modeling."

Kooreman said of skating, "I love being competitive and being able to see the world while representing my country."

Kooreman's first Olympic memory is watching the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

Kooreman grew up in Melvindale, a suburb of Detroit.

Kooreman said of her parents, "My parents sacrificed their dreams so that I could achieve mine. They taught me what it means to work hard and never give up."

Kooreman switched from inline skating to speed skating on ice in hopes of competing at the Olympics. She tried long track speed skating before deciding she preferred the neck-and-neck style of short track racing.

Kooreman competed at the inline skating world championships and won a gold medal at the 2007 Pan American Championships.

Kooreman was named an alternate on the 2010 U.S. Olympic short track team, then made her Olympic debut in 2014 at the Sochi Olympics.

Jessica Kooreman (nee Smith) was born October 14th, 1983 in Dearborn, Michigan.

Both her parents were roller skaters, and Kooreman got her first skates at 1 year old.

Her father, Rick, was her coach when she was young.

Kooreman also did modeling and child beauty pageants as a girl.

Competing in a beauty pageant.

Modeling on roller skates.

Kooreman also played youth hockey.

Kooreman said she decided to quit modeling when she started getting floor burns on her knees.

Her mom said, "It's knee pads or modeling. You have to choose." Kooreman replied, "I'm not wearing knee pads, so I guess I'm done modeling."

Kooreman said of skating, "I love being competitive and being able to see the world while representing my country."

Kooreman's first Olympic memory is watching the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

Kooreman grew up in Melvindale, a suburb of Detroit.

Kooreman said of her parents, "My parents sacrificed their dreams so that I could achieve mine. They taught me what it means to work hard and never give up."

Kooreman switched from inline skating to speed skating on ice in hopes of competing at the Olympics. She tried long track speed skating before deciding she preferred the neck-and-neck style of short track racing.

Kooreman competed at the inline skating world championships and won a gold medal at the 2007 Pan American Championships.

Kooreman was named an alternate on the 2010 U.S. Olympic short track team, then made her Olympic debut in 2014 at the Sochi Olympics.